Hi everyone,
I wanted to open a discussion about the current economy and reward system in Air Realistic Battles, specifically regarding the Top Tier experience and the stock grind.
Right now, the stock grind at Top Tier is arguably at its worst state ever. Entering a match without Chaff, proper flight modifications, or ARH (Fox-3) missiles means you are essentially cannon fodder for the first dozens of matches.
To survive, you have to play flawlessly. You need to notch, use multipathing, and successfully evade a wall of incoming missiles. Defeating an incoming missile takes skill, situational awareness, and effort—especially when you are stock.
For example, just earlier today I managed to successfully notch incoming radar missiles twice in a row while being completely stock without Chaff. It requires perfect timing and positioning. However, while you might defeat one or two missiles with pure flight mechanics, it is completely unreliable when enemies start spamming them. You will eventually get overwhelmed, and the game gives you absolutely zero rewards for your defensive efforts.
If you dodge multiple missiles with high-skill maneuvers, get overwhelmed by the next one, and die without a kill, you leave the match with 0 RP and a massive repair bill, despite playing defensively well.
My Proposal:
Gaijin should introduce an RP and SL reward for “Successful Missile Evading”.• How it could work: If a missile is actively tracking your aircraft (hard lock / Pitbull phase) and you successfully defeat it via kinematically out-maneuvering it, terrain masking, or proper notching, you should receive a score/RP/SL reward.
• Why it helps: It softens the brutal stock grind. It rewards players for actual skill and defensive flying, rather than just rewarding the person who spammed the missile from 40km away. It keeps players engaged in the match even if they are structurally at a disadvantage.
The current “Skill Bonus” exists, but it only rewards kills. We need a system that rewards survival mechanics and defensive gameplay to make the general progression smoother and less frustrating.
What are your thoughts on this? Would this help balance the Top Tier frustration, or would it be too easy to abuse? Let’s discuss!
